In its Modern Sea Power series,
Dragon previously released a 1/350 scale plastic kit of
USS Benson (DD-421). Commissioned on 25 July 1940, this
US Navy destroyer was the lead ship of a class widely
used in WWII. The name of the destroyer stems from that
of Admiral William S. Benson (1855-1932). Dragon’s
earlier kit (Item No.1032) showed the destroyer as it
was configured in 1945. At this time USS Benson had
completed naval operations in the Mediterranean Sea, and
in May of that year the destroyer had then been
transferred to the Pacific Ocean theater until the end
of WWII.

This latest 1/350 scale kit from Dragon shows the same
destroyer, but this time in its original configuration
shortly after its commissioning in 1940 at the Boston
Navy Yard. Its shakedown period was in the Caribbean.
Remembering that the USA was not yet at war in 1940, USS
Benson commenced neutrality patrols in the Atlantic in
November of that year. Such was the popularity of the
original kit of this destroyer, that Dragon has launched
this additional kit of the destroyer in its early life.
It may be the same ship, but the kit has quite a
different setup. An abundant assortment of brand new
parts includes a replacement hull made by slide molds. A
completely new hull was called for due to important
differences from that of Item No.1032. The aft
superstructure and deck are also new, as is the main
mast with its crow’s nest. Other differences between the
two kits are the rangefinder, .50-cal AA guns, and the
blast shield for the aft torpedo launcher. A generous
selection of photo-etched parts is available for items
such as the sky-lookout shield and various ladders.
This is yet another fine kit in Dragon’s ship range, and
as a Smart Kit, it offers a pleasurable built to
modelers of all skill levels.